What Are Your Stairlifts Options?

Choice of colors and upholstery – Some lifts have a greater choice than others. Moreover, some dealers can paint the lift any color, and cover the upholstery in any fabric you like. Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).

Stairlift Companies Near Me

Stairlift Companies Near Me

Stairlift Companies Near Me: Do You Need a Stairlift?

Having limited mobility due to aging, injury, or disability can be a big problem, especially if you live in a two-story house with stairs. Navigating the stairs daily is not only difficult but also dangerous for you or your loved one. Installing a stairlift can be a game-changer for your independent living and mobility in your home. If you are considering buying a stairlift, the first question you should ask yourself is whether a stairlift is right for you. You need to be sure that having a stairlift will make life easier for you. Mobility needs can be complex, and stairlifts are not suited to everyone. But there are many types of stairlifts made by stairlift companies near me to meet different needs.

Most users of stairlifts suffer from arthritis. Many others suffer from non-arthritic joint pain. People living with a disability and those who tire easily, or whose knees find walking up steps to be a challenge due to an injury, also find stairlifts quite helpful.

It’s probably not worth buying a stairlift if your mobility issues are mild and likely to subside within a few months. This is because there are many sunk costs that cannot be recouped if you want to get rid of your stairlift. You can just rent a stairlift to use for some period.

You should also consider whether you need to use the stairs at all – for example, it might be easier to stop using a basement or attic room, rather than purchasing and installing a stairlift. Plus, if you need to use the stairs to get to the bathroom, fitting a toilet in a more accessible location might be a better solution overall. This all depends on the layout of your home – in some houses, a new bathroom might be a lot cheaper than a stairlift.

But, generally, installing a stairlift is often a more practical and cost-effective option, and it means less of a change to your lifestyle, allowing you to carry on living independently in your home.

Once you have decided that a stairlift is a right option for you, it is important to choose the stairlift that will best suit your needs.

Choosing the Right Stairlift

Four Crucial Steps to Choosing and Buying a Stairlift

You can’t just order a stairlift off the peg – it must suit your needs and your home. Stairlift companies’ surveyor or representative will visit your home to:

  • talk about what you need and how you will use the lift
  • check your stairs and work out how the lift might be fitted
  • either give you a quote during this visit or send it to you soon afterward

Note: These visits are made without any obligation – so, don’t be put under any pressure to buy.

  1. Contact More Than One Stairlift Company/Dealer

Stairlift prices and services vary a lot, so it’s recommended trying at least three companies. Different manufacturers offer different ranges of stairlifts, too, so you may have to try more than one to find the lift that works best for you and your home.

It is best to contact dealers that offer a wide variety of stairlifts so that you will have a wider choice.

Find stairlift companies through:

  • the People With Disabilities Foundation
  • the Administration for Community Living
  • ads in newspapers or magazines

When you contact stairlift companies near me, you may be asked a few simple questions about your stairs and they will arrange an appointment to visit you.

The lifts themselves should meet the relevant US Standard (ASME A18.1- 2003) and conform to ISO 9386 – look for the ISO mark.

  1. Discuss Your Stairlift Requirements and Options

When the dealer sends their representative to your home, he/she will measure you and your stairs.

  • They usually just need to know the length of your leg when sitting, to make sure there is no danger of you grazing your knees as you go up and down the stairs.
  • If your stairs have a particularly low ceiling, they may measure your height when sitting down.
  • They will also need to know your weight.
  • They ought to ask you about your mobility.
  • Expect questions that will help you choose the right control, including whether you are left- or right-handed.

The representative should give you full details of their range and tell you about the products that will suit you best.

Think about what you will be able to manage in the future, as well as what you find easy now. Think about the following options:

  • Swivel seats – These let you turn to face the landing to get on and off more easily. The swivel locks in place, so there is no danger of the seat moving if you push on the armrest to stand up. Some swivel seats are powered.
  • Choice of colors and upholstery – Some lifts have a greater choice than others. Moreover, some dealers can paint the lift any color, and cover the upholstery in any fabric you like.
  • Easy-to-use controls – You should be able to choose between right- and left-handed controls. They should provide other choices, including levers that are easy to use even if you have little grip or strength. Check that you will be able to easily hold the control in place for as long as it takes to get up or down the stairs. Some lifts have remote controls.

A good sales representative will have a selection of controls for you to try before deciding.

  • Hand-held remote controls and wall controls – You can use these to call the lift or send it back up or down the stairs. This is very useful if more than one person in your household uses the stairlift. Check how many remote controls are supplied – some stairlift companies near me give you two as a matter of course. Remote control and wall controls can also be used by an assistant, who can control the lift for you.
  • Safety belt – These are fitted on many stairlifts as standard. Check that you can fasten your belt easily. Can you choose which side it fastens on? If you need more support than a belt will give, many stairlifts can be supplied with a more elaborate harness.
  • Comfortable seats – All stairlifts have padded seats. If you can, try them out for comfort before you buy. The manufacturer or dealer should be able to tell you where you can do this – many stairlift companies provide local mobility shops with demonstration models for people to try. Check that the stairlift moves off quietly and smoothly.
  • Lock – If you have children visiting and they want to play on the stairlift, a lock is useful to help avoid accidents.
  • Footrest raisers – All stairlifts have a platform on which you rest your feet. Both the seat and this platform flip up so that the lift does not take up much space when not in use. If you have difficulty bending to lift the footrest up, look for a model which raises the footrest automatically.
  1. Compare Stairlift Costs and Service

Think about costs and the service offered. Take into account the after-sales service offered and the length of the guarantee, as well as what the stairlift itself is worth.

Some stairlift companies or dealers will provide a firm quote – you either take it or leave it. Others may be open to negotiation. It may help you to get a better price if you tell the company that you are getting quotes from more than one company.

Think carefully about accepting a ‘special offer’. You may find that a company can offer you a discount or a cheap deal on a particular model. Usually, you must sign up quickly to get this discount. You may be told that a ‘canceled’ order means that a stairlift has suddenly become available that just happens to fit your home and can be offered to you at a reduced cost.

While you will get the stairlift for the promised price, the lift may not be the one that suits you best. Consider carefully if it would be a good choice for you.

  1. Ask Questions

Here are some questions you may want to ask the representative:

  1. a) How long will the work take?

You may be surprised by how quickly a lift can be supplied and fitted – often within a week of the first call. Stairlifts usually take only a few hours to install; we usually take less than three hours for a straight stairway.

  1. b) How much mess is caused by installation?

Stairlifts are attached to the stairs rather than the wall and do not involve any major building work. You can expect our technicians to tidy up the place after the lift is fitted. You shouldn’t have to repaint or redecorate afterward.

  1. c) What happens if I no longer need the stairlift?

If you move house or rearrange your home so that you don’t have to use the stairs, you may no longer need the stairlift. Some stairlift companies near me will buy the lift back – it can be reconditioned and resold. But the costs of removal and refurbishment mean you will probably only get a fraction of the price back. Ask them:

  • How much the company/dealer would offer to buy it back,
  • If the price depends on the age and condition of the stairlift,
  • What conditions might apply, such as the age of the lift or whether it’s been regularly serviced by them,
  • How quickly they would be able to do this, and
  • Would they remove it for free and make good any damage to the walls or stairs?

If you think you will only need a stairlift for a short period, you might consider renting one.

  1. d) What about after-sales service?
  • Guarantee – Check the period offered. All stairlifts will have at least a year’s guarantee, but some manufacturers give you a more generous two years.
  • Repairs – Stairlifts are fairly reliable, so these should be rare. Ask when the call center is open and how long it takes before a technician will visit. Get details of call-out and additional hourly charges.
  • Battery – Check that the maintenance contract covers the battery – many don’t.
  • Maintenance contract or extended warranty – You can buy it at the time of purchase or when the original guarantee runs out. The usual deal is that for an annual fee you will get an annual service visit and free repairs. Some manufacturers offer variations such as an annual service plus reduced rates for an engineer’s visit if the stairlift needs repair.

Remember, while maintenance contracts may give you peace of mind, think about whether it would be cheaper to pay for repairs as you go.

Need Help Going Up and Down Stairs?

Our aim at Stannah Mountain West Stairlifts is to provide top-notch mobility solutions for our customers enabling them to enjoy greater independence and more comfortable and active lives. We do this by providing high-quality products and services that guarantee value for money.

We are very proud of our highly skilled team of stairlift engineers. Our engineers provide a service second to none and continually undergo training to ensure they understand all elements of our stairlifts.

We stock both new and reconditioned stairlifts and also have a wide range of stairlifts that can be rented. This is ideal for customers who do not need the lift for a long period.

We will first do a FREE survey and assess which is the best lift to suit your needs, and then quote you a price. You are under no pressure or obligation to buy. If you decide to go ahead with the lift then our engineers will fit the stairlift at a convenient time and with little disturbance. Your lift will normally be fitted in less than half a day!

Stairlift Companies Near Me

We always strive to offer high-quality products, services, and affordable prices for our customers. We want to establish a special relationship with our customers. We don’t want to act and look just like other stairlift companies near me!

Please feel free to call us now at (888) 542-3834 or contact us online to schedule a FREE, no-obligation home survey and get an accurate free quote.

Stairlift Companies Near Me

Stairlift Companies Near Me

Foot Traffic and Stairlift Parking Considerations on Narrow Stairs

Your house “traffic patterns” at the bottom, on, and at the top of the staircase are an extremely important factor in deciding on what choice of stairlift suits your home. For most people, the two-way powered swivel option for their Stannah is enough. It enables you to swivel the chair to the safest position at both the top and bottom of the stairs, particularly in tight spaces. Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).

Retractable Rail Stairlift

Retractable Rail Stairlift

If you are considering buying and installing a stairlift in your home, one of the first things to think about is how it’ll fit on your stairs. How is the rail secured? What is the rail length? Can it go around corners? How far does the rail stick out past the bottom stair? What if you have a door at the bottom and need the rail to fold up and out of the way? Should I go for a retractable rail stairlift?

There are several factors to take into account when deciding on a stairlift that meets your needs to purchase and therefore, it can be difficult to know where to start. Luckily, we’ve got you covered!

In this article, we will share with you some of the things you need to know to help you make an informed decision.

Stairlift Components

  1. The Stairlift Rail

A stairlift is made up of three key parts: the rail, the carriage, and the seat. The rail is what gets mounted to the staircase first. A rail can be either straight or curved. Stannah stairlifts use a rack and pinion gear system. The stairlift rail houses the rack, a series of teeth that the pinion (gear) on the stairlift “climbs” up or down the stairs.

Stairlift rails, in general, are mounted to the stairs with feet that are typically attached with a lag (wood or concrete). Nothing is attached to the walls. The walls cannot hold as much weight as the stair treads.

The screws that hold your stairlift in place require only very small holes. So, if you have a historic home, you can still retain the design of your home with the stairlift installed.

  1. The Carriage

The carriage is what houses the “brains and muscles” of the stairlift. The motor gearbox, electronics, most of the safety switches and the batteries are within the carriage. It is basically the hood of your car where the engine is kept.

The pinion attaches to the motor gearbox which climbs the rack on the rail. There is a printed circuit board that acts as the brain of the stairlift. It tells it when to start and stop based on the signals it is reading from the switches and circuits of the chair.

The carriage also displays an LED panel in case any troubleshooting is needed. This allows us to diagnose problems over the phone and help get repairs and services completed faster.

Our stairlifts work during a power outage. Stannah stairlifts function on battery power so if there is a loss of power to the house, the stairlift will keep on working. All of our stairlifts have tracks that contain tough copper strips that are always trickle charging the stairlift battery, so losing power won’t be a problem. Our stairlifts will continue to work on battery an average of up to 25 trips after a brown or blackout.

  1. The Seat

This is the interesting part. The seat is where you sit but it is more than that on a Stannah stairlift. It is where you are safely taken up the stairs. The seat is a vital part. Comfort, performance, and quality of materials all matter.

We offer several seat options but great to note are the safety features that come standard. Stannah stairlift chairs swivel to face the top of the stairs only, providing a safe way to get on or off and preventing swiveling down the stairs and inadvertently putting you in a dangerous position precariously perched at the top of your stairs.

In addition, there are three ways to switch the power off for safety, two are located on the armrest of your chair. Our stairlifts also all come standard with seatbelts located in the easiest-to-reach place, right under the armrest.

Lastly, the stairlift footrest is button powered, which means you don’t have to bend over to fold or unfold the footrest. This button is also located right on the armrest.

Foot Traffic and Stairlift Parking Considerations on Narrow Stairs

Your house “traffic patterns” at the bottom, on, and at the top of the staircase are an extremely important factor in deciding on what choice of stairlift suits your home. For most people, the two-way powered swivel option for their Stannah is enough. It enables you to swivel the chair to the safest position at both the top and bottom of the stairs, particularly in tight spaces.

If you need to allow the front door, garage door, or closet door to open, then a retractable rail stairlift is highly recommended, especially if the bottom of your stairs is very close or adjacent to a door.

The retractable rail for Stannah stairlifts is available as an add-on. This rail add-on is only available for straight stairlifts. As it is automated, the rail retracts on its hinge, out of the way when the stairlift goes upstairs and extends the track as you and the stairlift travel downstairs.

For curved staircases where traffic is also a concern, there is the curved rail. A Stannah curved stairlift can be designed to curve around corners, including at the end of the rail, around a wall if needed. The same can be done at the top of the stairs.

Another thing to consider when it comes to your home’s traffic patterns is where the stairlift is parked. If your home has tight stairs, whether straight or curved, with a Stannah stairlift you can choose a parking solution that best fits your needs.

Additional stairlift parking options are available with the curved rail design. These options can put the stairlift in a location out of the way of those who regularly walk the stairs, as well as distancing it from the top of the stairs in consideration of safety. With the curved rail, a safe parking solution can be achieved. Even if your stairs are straight, opting for a curved rail can give you this flexibility.

Stairlift Dimensions

How Narrow Is Narrow?

Stannah stairlift will work for staircases where the minimum width is 29 inches or even 28 inches in width. The length of your stairs will not be an issue for installation, as we can make the rail to be any length needed; however, it will be a factor in the total cost of the stairlift.

The shortest stairlift we will manufacture is three steps, anything less than that and we would recommend a ramp, if possible.

Choose a Stairlift That Will Fit

When it comes to finding a stairlift that is right for your body, of course, there is no one size that fits all. Every stairlift will have specifications including seat width and weight capacity. Not paying attention to these could lead you to choose a lift that is uncomfortable and unsafe.

Some tips for getting the right fit:

  • Measure the space needed to sit comfortably by sitting on a chair and measuring your seated lap width. Consider choosing a model with a wide seat if it is more comfortable.
  • If you don’t know your current weight, weigh yourself, or have your doctor help you.
  • Try out stairlifts at a showroom.
  • Find a model with adjustable armrests if you think it would help.

Bear in mind that you want the retractable rail stairlift to fit you for a long time, so consider the possibility of weight gain and other changes down the road.

Double Check the Warranty and Service Policy

With all of the excitement of designing your stairlift and choosing additional features, it is easy to lose sight of what an important purchase this is. Stairlifts are meant to be a one-time deal, so warranty and service policies should be important factors to consider when choosing your new stairlift.

Before you complete the purchase, you should double-check that nothing has changed from the initial consultation. Some dealers will offer a different warranty depending on the type of stairlift purchased.

For example, if you have changed your mind and gone with a curved instead of a straight lift, you could find yourself with a shorter warranty period.

Most warranties extend to one or two years, and this may include annual maintenance services, including covering the cost of any required repairs. After the warranty period, it’ll be up to you to pay for service, repairs, or replacements. Some companies offer an extended warranty for an additional fee.

Retractable Rail Stairlift

If you are looking for a stairlift that offers a perfect solution for obstructed landings at the bottom of a straight staircase, then you should consider a retractable rail stairlift. At Stannah Mountain West Stairlifts, we are ready and more than happy to help you find a stairlift that suits your needs and budget.

Call us now at (888) 542-3834 or contact us online to schedule a FREE, no-obligation home assessment so that we can provide you with an accurate quote.

Retractable Rail Stairlift

Retractable Rail Stairlift

Risks of Privately Buying A Refurbished Stairlift

There are lots of things to think about if you are considering buying a refurbished stairlift privately, including

  • How will you install it?
  • How will you know if it is safe?
  • What if something goes wrong during the installation or afterward?
  • How will you know if it is in good condition? It might be right at the end of its working life.
  • If it is curved, it wasn’t made for your stairs. This might mean it takes up more room on your stairs, doesn’t fit together as well, or doesn’t fit your stairs at all.

Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).

Am I Under any Obligation to Buy After a Sales Visit?

There’s no obligation to you whatsoever after this; not only will it enable us to give you a fixed written quotation; it will also help us to ensure you get the right product for your specific needs. Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).

Buying a Curved Stairlift

Buying a stairlift is a far more suitable option for those who require permanent support moving around their home. As we get older our health becomes more fragile and we experience limited mobility, and therefore, maintaining a sense of independence and freedom of mobility is important. Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).

Refurbished Stairlifts

A second-hand/reconditioned/refurbished Stannah Stairlift comes with the same built-in quality as a new lift and could be the right option for your needs and budget, whatever the type of stairs you have. Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).

Buying A Stairlift

Buying a stairlift is a far more suitable option for those who require permanent support moving around their home. As we get older our health becomes more fragile and we experience limited mobility, and therefore, maintaining a sense of independence and freedom of mobility is important. Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).

Renting A Stairlift

Many people are unaware that renting a stairlift is an option. In many cases, renting a stairlift can be a far better alternative than permanently buying one for your home, especially if it’s only needed for a short period. Stairlift rental can also be extremely beneficial for those who are suffering from an injury that has temporarily reduced their mobility. Call now for a free no-obligation in-home evaluation with a guaranteed price in writing 888 532-3834 (Click To Call).